Flaim’s Forum: The Great Beckoning?

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 16: John Beck #12 of the Washington Redskins throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during a game at FedExField on October 16, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)Credit: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan finally pulled the plug on Rex Grossman this week. When you throw four interceptions in one game that’s always a possibility unless your name is Tom Brady or Mike Vick. And though Rex Grossman defended his play while the Redskins got off to a 3-1 start, the stats don’t lie. Grossman’s eleven turnovers through five games was too much for Coach Shanny to handle. Now the question is how will the Redskins backup quarterback John Beck fare.

When Shanny addressed the media on Wednesday, he said he was impressed by Beck in the loss to Philadelphia. “To come in a situation where they knew we had to throw the football, he had nine first downs, we could have attempted a field goal [on the first drive] and then he took us downfield, 80 yards, for the touchdown,” Shanahan said.

Now Beck will get his first start against the Carolina Panthers, a 1-5 team that is allowing almost 28 points per game. This could be the perfect spot for Beck because fans simply want him to play better than Rex and that bar isn’t exactly high. Plus Beck should get help from his running game as the Skins face a defense that is allowing almost 140 yards per game on the ground.

Heading into the preseason, the talk was that both head coach Mike Shanahan and his son Kyle, the Redskins offensive coordinator, were very high on John Beck. After an impressive preseason debut against the Colts when he completed 14 of 17 passes, Beck tailed off and was beaten out by Rex Grossman. Now the 30-year-old will get his first start since his rookie season with the Miami Dolphins in 2007. My bet is Beck will play well enough to keep his job by simply limiting turnovers. And if he is able to do that this week the Redskins should come out on top and get to 4-2. Who knows what happens after that? Maybe this will be the start of the “great Beckoning?”